NU tennis program finally has facility to call its own

Published 8:00 pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2003

For several years, Northwood Universitys tennis program had to have been considered one of the best programs in the nation without a home to call its own.

The Timberwolves can no longer claim that distinction  and they dont mind one bit.

The new Gerstacker Tennis Center was officially dedicated on the NU campus Monday during a ceremony attended by administration, players, coaches, donors, and other VIPs.

The $400,000 eight-court outdoor facility  located behind NUs football practice field  was an unqualified hit with those in attendance.

"Ive been coaching in (NCAA) Division II for 30 years, and Ive been to many, many facilities," noted Timberwolves coach Zane Colestock. "Undoubtedly, this is the finest Division II facility in the country."

If Colestock seems proud of the GTC, he has every right to.

The facility, which has been two years in the making, was designed largely by the NU coach, and he oversaw construction every day from the time ground was broken in June until the GTC was finished just recently.

"I had an administrator say to me, Zane, why dont you get a life? My response was, This is my life," said Colestock, adding that he tried to take the best features of other tennis centers around the nation and incorporate them all into the GTC.

"Its been a lifelong dream of mine to have a facility that we could call home and be proud of," he noted.

Northwood junior Tomas Menec agreed with his coach on two counts  that the GTC is one of the best hes seen, and that it is nice to have a place to call home.

Previously, the Timberwolves have played their home matches at the Midland Community Tennis Center.

"I can say that theyre really good courts. Theyre one of the best in Division II," said Menec. "We are glad that we can play here on campus in front of our fellow students. They can come see us and support us."

Northwood President Dr. David Fry, in his remarks to the crowd gathered Monday at the GTC, credited Colestock for having "birthed this facility" and echoed Menecs hopes that having courts on campus would encourage the student body to turn out in greater numbers for NU matches.

"Athletics at Northwood University is not just for competing, but its also in order that our entire student body can be involved in it," Fry said. " … This (facility) makes that possible in a way that the other facilities weve used didnt make that possible."

The construction of the GTC is another step in a long list of recent projects at Northwood that has included renovation of Hantz Stadium, a new basketball floor at the Bennett Center, and improvements to the baseball and softball facilities, to name a few.

Fry also said he hopes that NU students, faculty, and staff will take advantage of the GTC for their own physical benefit.

"We feel that athletic endeavor and strenuous exercise are a function of character. They cannot be separated," he said.

Northwood Athletics Director Pat Riepma publicly applauded the school and donors for undertaking the construction of the GTC the "right" way.

"Weve been very blessed here at Northwood to have some beautiful facilities, and the Gerstacker Tennis Center is a great addition to that," he said.

"As you look at this (facility), it is very clear that it was done the right way, that it … is a first-class facility, and it will definitely make a difference (in the community)."

Riepma said he would like to see the GTC host high school and college tournaments and provide enjoyment of tennis for everyone at Northwood.

"Its a win-win situation for everybody," he said. " … We are thrilled to have this as part of our complex."

Near the conclusion of Mondays ceremony, Fry announced that all eight courts of the GTC have been named in honor of major donors and school founders. The major donors, who were publicly recognized at the ceremony, were the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Chemical Bank & Trust Co., the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Comerica Bank, the Andrew F. Anderson Family, Dr. Jack F. Sanders, and Mrs. Frederick G. Wacker, Jr.

While the GTC is open and ready for play, the GLIAC Championship tournament this weekend still will be held at the Midland Community Tennis Center. The reason for that, Colestock noted, is so that the Timberwolves wont have a decided homecourt advantage.

He added, though, that the school is already looking into the possibility of hosting the NCAA Division II nationals in 2005.

Although completion of the GTC was delayed over a month beyond its original scheduled date, Colestock had no complaints.

"After you wait 20 years, a month-and-a-half is nothing," he said with a smile.

"Ive been waiting for these courts for four years," she beamed. "And now … theyre finally here."

Northwoods womens team has the inside track heading into this weekends conference tournament. The Timberwolves finished the dual meet season at 9-0, having won an incredible 75 of 81 flights against their GLIAC opponents. NU finished the dual meet season with wins of 9-0 against five different conference foes. They have won at least seven of nine flights in every meet.

The GLIAC champion is determined by a combination of dual meet record and performance at the conference tourney.

The GLIAC Championship will be held Friday and Saturday at the MCTC. Admission is free.

NU volleyball team home at last after 4-1 road trip

After a lengthy road trip, NUs volleyball team returns home this week for three matches in as many days at the Bennett Center. The Timberwolves host Lake Superior State today at 7 p.m., then host Michigan Tech on Friday at 7 p.m. and Northern Michigan on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Northwood hit the highway in early October on a down note, having lost consecutive home matches to Grand Valley State and Ferris State on Oct. 3-4. The Timberwolves regrouped, however, and beat Lake Superior 3-0, Ashland 3-1, Findlay 3-1, and Mercyhurst 3-0, all on the road, over an 11-day span.

NUs four-match winning streak was ended last Saturday on the road at Gannon, 3-1.

The Timberwolves enter this weeks homestand at 15-9 overall, 8-4 in the GLIAC.

Soccer teams to host lone GLIAC home games Friday

After tasting success against nonconference opponents early on, both Northwoods mens and womens soccer teams have struggled since the start of the GLIAC schedule.

Both teams will continue conference play Friday against Saginaw Valley State in the Timberwolves lone home GLIAC games of the season. The women get underway at 2 p.m., while the men take the field at 4 p.m.

The men are 8-4 overall, 1-2 in the GLIAC, while the women are 5-7 overall, 0-3 in conference play.